BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2443
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Date of Hearing: May 9, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2443 (Williams) - As Amended: May 3, 2012
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 7-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a mussel infestation prevention fee,
levied annually on vessels, to fund local and state efforts to
combat invasive mussel infestation. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) to
adopt emergency regulations, following consultation with a
technical advisory group of interested parties established by
DBW, to impose an additional vessel fee, not to exceed $10 per
vessel.
2)Directs fee revenue to the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation
Prevention Account, established by this bill within the
General Fund.
3)Restricts use of fee revenue, upon appropriation, to the
prevention of dreissenid mussel infestation, as follows: (a)
85% for grants to local governments and joint powers
authorities for the reasonable regulatory costs of
implementing an adopted mussel infestation prevention plan,
and (b), 15% to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to
conduct vessel inspections and related activities, consistent
with existing statute, to prevent the spread of mussel
infestation in those areas of the state where a local mussel
infestation prevention plan has not been adopted.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Onetime costs in 2012-13, ranging from $75,000 to $150,000, to
DBW to establish and consult with the technical advisory
group, to develop and adopt emergency regulations for
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collection and use of the fee, and to establish grant program
procedures and criteria. (Harbors and Watercraft Revolving
Fund).
2)Onetime costs in 2012-13 of approximately $150,000 to the
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to update vessel
registration fee collection systems and information (Motor
Vehicle Account).
3)Annual costs to DBW of approximately $150,000 (equivalent to
one staff member, plus overhead and miscellaneous costs) to
administer the local grant program (Quagga and Zebra Mussel
Infestation Prevention Account).
4)Annual mussel infestation prevention fee revenue of as much as
$8.5 million (assuming 850,000 registered vessels and $10 fee)
beginning in 2012-13 (Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation
Prevention Account).
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. The author intends this bill to establish a
dedicated source of funding for efforts to prevent and counter
the infestation of the state's waters by dreissenid mussels.
The author contends it appropriate to levy a fee on vessels
that operate in the state's nonmarine waters because such
vessels contribute to the spread of dreissenid mussels.
2)Background. Dreissenid mussels, which include Quagga and
Zebra mussels, are highly invasive species that were first
discovered in the United States in the Great Lakes region in
1988, where they have caused billions of dollars in damage
control costs to public agencies and private industry. These
mussels spread by clinging to the outer surfaces of boats and
other aquatic equipment or by drifting to downstream water
bodies as microscopic mussel larva.
Since these invasive species reproduce rapidly and in large
numbers, they can severely hinder water delivery systems by
clogging pipes, pumps and other water intake structures. They
are also harmful to aquatic ecosystems by consuming plankton
and other nutrients that form the primary base of the food
chain. As a result, these invasive species threaten
California's irrigation network and the canal system that
transports drinking water for millions of Southern California
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residents. In addition to menacing the state's natural
ecosystems and water conveyance systems, a mussel invasion
threatens other valuable state resources, including commercial
and sport fisheries.
Statute authorizes DFG to conduct inspections and order
quarantines, closures and decontaminations to control
dreissenid mussels, and requires water supply system operators
to cooperate with DFG to implement measures to avoid, control
or eradicate infestations. DFG receives approximately $2.3
million annually from the Harbors and Watercraft fund to
combat invasive mussels.
3)Support . This bill is supported by the Association of
California Water Agencies (ACWA) and several local governments
combating mussel infestation who see a need for a statewide
program.
4)Opposition. This bill is opposed by the California
Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains and other
boating organizations, which contend the bill assesses fees on
vessels that may never operate in waters infested by
dreissenid mussels. These opponents note DFG already receives
funding from the Harbors and Watercraft Fund for mussel
infestation prevention and argue it is better to assess fees
on vessel operating in specific infested waters.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081